TACLOBAN CITY — The provincial board in Northern Samar is set to conduct an investigation over allegation that several
vaccines against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were stolen
from the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital.
The committee hearing, scheduled this Wednesday (June 7)
is in response to a post made by a media practitioner that a ‘powerful personality’ in the province was behind on this alleged act.
“In consultation with fellow members of the committee on laws,
and because of the importance of the matter, it was recommended
to the floor for the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to constitute a committee of the whole, to investigate, in aid of legislation, the incident
that allegedly happened in the facility,” board member Pascasio
Joshua Maria Vicario III, who chairs the committee, said.
It was learned that during their June 30 regular session,
board member Mary Ann Abalon, who is a doctor by profession,
delivered a privilege speech urging her fellow board members
to investigate the matter that was posted by media practitioner
named Peregrino Arillo in his Facebook account last June 23.
Arillo, in his post, alleged that the vaccines that were inside
a blue colored container was taken illegally from the storage
facility of the province by a lady who was wearing a white gown
last June 10.
The lady immediately went to the house of the unnamed
powerful personality in the province.
At least 15 vials of Sinovac vaccines were reportedly taken
and were administered to members of the households and security
personnel of said personality.
Arillo added in his post that is still not clear if said personality
was among those who were inoculated with the vaccine.
He added that the incident happened while Northern Samar
Provincial Hospital Chief Dr. Ninfa Caparoso-Kam was in the
United States.
The province has been experiencing surge of COVID-19
reason why Governor Edwin Ongchuan has earlier sought for the
Department of Health (DOH) to provide additional vaccines for
the province. Based on the records of the DOH, Northern Samar
as of July 2 has received 60,514 doses of vaccines. (Roel Amazona)
